Self-Disclosure of God Principles of Ibn Al-Arabi's Cosmology, The

495 Pages·2011·16.72 MB·English

by  William C. Chittick

SUNY SerieisnI slam
SeyyeHdo sseNiasnr, editor
PRINCIPOLFEI SB NAL - <ARABI's COSMOLOGY
The
Self-Disclosure
orG od
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WILLIAMC. C HITTICK
StaUtnei voefr sitPyr ess.
New York
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sytsemo rt ranstmeidi tna nyf ormo rb y anym eanisn cludeilnegc treolneicct,r ostatic,
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CONTENTS
IntroduicxtK in/oo wnl edogfte h Ceo somsx i/iI ban l-b�ir'Basa sic
Themexsv /iT hPer incoifpl Iesab ln- 'ACroasbmI'osl xoxgvy/i T ih Ber etah
oft hAel l-Merxcxivfu/iCl io is mLiacn guxaxgxe/i Tih eT rnaslator's
Dielmmaxsx x/vA Notoen F oramtx l
GODAN D THE COSMOS
1.W WJD AND TIlEEN TI3T IIS EiSg nMsa,r kasn,dPr o ofs3 I S elvaensd
Horiz6oI nW su jli1d2I F romC hapt73e:Tr h e HGunned raenddT h ird
Queisotn16 I C ausya 1l6iI C todK'nsow led2g0eI C hapt47e5rC: od's
Waymar2k2I sC hapt41e1rT: hPer eceendBto o2k5 I C odF'osr m2 71T he
NonetxeitnEs ntit2i9eI Fs r omCh apt4e6r3 T: heT hiProdl 3e3I C hapt49e3r:
NewA rriv3a4Il F romC hapt36e9rT: hSet oorueshoefL igh3t6I sT heE nitties
andth Nea mes3 9I C hapt40e6rN: o thiHnagsB ecome Ma4n0Ii fest
Chapt45e1rT: heS tai41rI sT hingnoefsF si xi44t y
2.P ERPETSUEALLF -DISC4L7IOS C UrReEta io4n7I F romC hapt7e3r:Th e
ThirtQiueetsht 4i9Io F nr omC hapt5e5r8 T: heP reseonfc etC rheea tiaonnd
thCeo mman5d0I Se lfi-sDclo5s2Iu U rnee ndiRnegn ew5a7I lF rom
Chapt55e8rT: hePr esenocfBe r ingBiancg6k5 I I nfini6t6yI F romC hapter
198T:h eA lle-rMciBfruela 6t9Ih C hapt52e4rC: od'Insif niWtoer d7s0I
TheG neE nitt7y2 I F romC hapt36e0rT: heNi ntDhe puytshi7p6I F rom
Chapt19e8rT: heT wen-tFyiTraswtl) i78dI B ewildeenirtnmt hMea nya nd
thGen e7 9I C hapt50e7rS: ham7e9I C hapt54e2rB: ldinnes81sI C hapter
391T: heQ uikc-FloinwCgo ur8s2eI C hapt43e0rB: ewilderimne nt.
Arri8v3aI lF roCmh apt3e6r9A :n nihtiiolanan d Subs8i4Is C theanpctee r
473Y: ouGro dI sG neC od8 6I F roCmh apt72e:Tr r totianrgo utnhde
Kaaba8h9
3.T HE FOAFGC OED 9 1I T heFa ce9 1I P eirshme92nI tC hapt16e5r:
Realiz9a6tI F iroonmC hapt73e:Tr h e NinveetnyQt-uhSe est9i8Io n
DiscernitnhgFe a c9e9 I F romC hapt35e1rY: ield9i9I nC gh apt52e7r:
DesirtihnFega c1e0 1I T heV ei1l04 I C hapt254e:rT hCeu rta10i8In
Revela1t0i9I oC nh apt38e4rM: u tuWaaly stat11i2o ns
Contents
4.V EIOLSF L IGH1T2 /0 T heVe iolfS el1f20 /O ccasi12o3n/Fs r omC hapter
198T: heT wen-tyFiTftahw J.ti12d7 /F romC hapt19e8rTh: e Thirty-dS econ
TawJ.ti12d7 /T heI detniotfyt hVee ialn dt hFea c1e2 8/F romC hapt37e0r:
ThPea tohfE xalta13t2i/Co hna pt51e4rT: r usitnG od1 34/T hSep ecific
Face1 35/F romC hapt19e8rD: e pendionnWg h aFta lSlhso r13t9 /
WitnestshiSepne gic fiFcac e1 40/F romC hapt37e9rT: h eS ervaonftt h e
Praisew1o4r6t/C hhya pt26e5rT: h eA rri1v4e8r/C hapt39e6rTh: eV eils
ofK nowled1g50e/F roCm hapt36e9rT: h eS toroeuhsoefT eachi1n5g2/
Glor1i5e5s/C hapt45e8rT: heF aciGallo r1i58e /s F romC hapt55e8rT: he
PreseonfLc ieg 1h5t9 /C hapt10e0rT: heS tatoifFo ena 1r6 1/ Chapt10e1r:
ThSet atoifAo bna ndoFneian1rg6 2
II lHEO RDERO FT HEW ORLDS
5.T HER OOTS OFO RDE1R6 /7 TheU nitoyfM anyne1s6s7 /U nitayn d
Totya l17i0t/T heE ven anOdd d1t 7h3/eF romC hapt5e58rT: he
PreseonfBc rei ngTiognegt h1e7r8/R ankiinnEg x cell1e81n/ cGeo d's
Choic1e8s6 /F romC hapt7e3:Tr h eFift y-FtiQ ruseisotn19 0/F rom
Chapt72e:Er a titnhgFe o rbid1d9e1/nF romC hapt1e9r8,T: heT wetny­
ThiTradw J.ti1d92 /O rde1r93 /F romC hapt36e0rT: heS ixth
Deputys19h6i/Fp r omC hapt3e6r9 T: heS teohrouosfte h See ravn.t's
Poster1i9o8r ity
6.D IVINEAND COSMICR ELATI2O0N/1S T heF irsatn dt hLea s2t02 /F rom
Chapt5e5r8 T: heP reseonfFc ires tn2e0s3s/F romC hapt5e5r8 T: he
PreseonfLc aes tn2e03s/sT heM aniefsta ndt hNeo nmani2f0e5/sF tr om
Chapt5e5r8 T: heP reseonfMc aen eisftat20i8o/Fn r omC hapt5e58rT: he
PreseonfNc oen maienfstat21i/0o Cnh apt2e5r6 T: heS hinionftg h Feu ll
Moon2 12/W itnestshiNeno ngm ainefs2t1 4/ Chapt4e72r: F oolwling
thMeo sBte.a tuif2u1l6/ C hapt4e00rM: a nifMeesrtc.2y 1 9/C hapt3e9r4 :
Arritvharlo uCgohu rt2e2s/1y T heC entaenrdt hCier cumfer2e23n/c e
Chapt4e1r0,T: heC ircolfMe e rc2y2 5/C ircolfeW su jiid2 27/T he
TwoA rc2s3 3/C hapt4e27rT: wo BoLwesn'g 2t3h6 /M odaliotfi es
Wujiid2 37
7.T HEW ORLDSO FT HECOS MOS 24/1 A bstean ndW itnes24s/3e Cdh apter
492K:n owledogfte h Aeb se2n4t5 /F romC hapt36e9rT: hSet oroeuhsoef
Natur2e47 /C ommanadn dCr eat2i5o0/nH eavena nEda rt25h4 /F rom
Chapt73e:Tr h eF orTtyh-irQdu est2i5o5/ nF romC hapt55e8rTh: eP resence
.
oft hFeoo d-Gi2v5e6/rT w oa ndTh reWeo rl2d5s8 /F romC hapt69e:Or n
thMey steroifte hsNe ig ht i;>2a6l2 at
JIIl HES TRUCTUROEF T HEM ICROCOSM
8.SP IRITSA NDB ODI2E6S/9 S elafn dS ou2l6 9/C hapt2e67rT: heSo ul2 70/
The DiveiS npir2i7t1/ Governanc2e7 3/C hapte44r7 Es:s entiGaolv er­
nanc27e4 /T heSp irfirto tmh Ceo mmand27 6/C hapt26e8rT: hCea sting
ofK nowle2d77g /e B odi2e7s9/ CoproreoBuosd i2e8s1/ TheR at ionally
SpeakiSnogu 2l8 6/C hapt21e6rT: heS utble2t9y1 /F roCmh apt3e7r3 Th: e
vi Wisdoomft hIen heri29t/4o Crhsa pt39e7rT: heSo ulA'ssce n3t0 1
Cotnents
9.T HNEA TURALC ONSTITUTION3 03/ SpiraintNd a ture3 03/C hapt22e5r:
Incre3a0s7e/T sh eL igth Goufi da3n0c9e/F romC hapt71e:Fr as tionng
Sund3a1y4 /C hapt41e8rU: n dertsand3i1n5g/F romC hapt73e:Tr h e
TwelfQtuhe st3i1o7/nC hapt52e:Wr e akn3e1s8s/C onstit3u22t/Fi roonm
Chapt55e8rT: heP reseonfAc IIe- Ebmraciens3gs2n 9
10T.H IEM AGINABL ARZAKH 33/1 I magianti3o3n2 /A ppeti3t3e9/ I magination
andUn derstan3d4i5n/B go diFeosrv eer34 9/F roCm hapt36e0rT: heT enth
Deputyshi3p5 5/T heT rumpe3t57 / Chapt30e2rT: h eS piriStu'bss is-
ten3c5e9 /F romC hapt3e6r9 T: hSet oroeuhsoeft hFein aIlss u3e6 4/F rom
Chapt36e9rT: he eShtoourosfHe u mani365t /y F rom Ch1a9p8tT:e hrRe e al
Situa3t6i8 on
AppendiIx:I bna l-'ArabVrise wso nC ertaSiunf i3s7 /1 A ppendiIxIT :r anslation
ofT echnicTaelr ms3 87
Notes 389
Bibliogrya 4ph09
Indexo fSo urces 413
Indexo fK oranVicenoes 421
Indeoxf H aditahnsd Sa yings 433
Indeoxf Pr oper Names4 43
Indexo fA rabic Wo4r4d7s
Indexo fT erms 455

INTRODUCTION
1b
Thisb ookc ontinutehsei nvestigaItb ieo­ns familitaorr e adeorfst habto okN.e verthe­
gani nT hSe uPfia thK noofw le(dhgeree afterl essn,o neo ft hibso oks implrye peawthsa t
SPK)T.h erIep romisead v olumoen I bna l­ wass aiidn t hee arliveorl ume, waintdhf, e w
'ArabI"'Cso smologyc,o"n cerniwnhgi chI exceptioanlslt, e xtasr et ranslaitnetdEo n ­
hada lreapdrye paredg ooad d ealo fm ate­ glisfho rt hef irtsitm e.
rialI.n1' 993I, appltioet dh eN ationEanl­ Onem ajodri fferebnectew eetnh ivso lume
dowmenfto rt heH umanitifeosra f ellowshipa ndS PKi st hem anneri nw hichI h avea t­
tow ritae b ooko nI bna l-'Aracbois'mso logi­temptetdo c ontextuatlhiedz ies cussiIotn s.
calt eachinIg rse.c eivtehdeg enerosuusp ­ isr elativeealsyyt oh aveI bna J-lArabi say
porotf t heE ndowmendtu rintgh ea cademic whato new anthsi mt os ayC.r itiacnsdd evo­
year1 994-9an5d,f ort haIt am extremely teehsa veq uotehdi ms electively for centu­
gratefWuilt.h outth issu pporitti sd oubtful rieasn,d m odern scholarschoinpt ihnause d
thatth ibso okc ouledv ehra veb eenw ritten. int hes amep athG.i vent haItb na PArabi
Durintgh ayte aIrw asa blteo p utt ogethae r constansthliyfh tissp erspectiitiv sae s ,i mple
serioefss omet wentcyh aptedresa liwnigt h mattetro c hoosweo rdst hapte rtationo ne
thet opitce,n o fw hicha rep resentheedr eI. perspectoirvs eo,m ep erspectiavnedst ,o
hopet oo ffetrh er emainicnhga ptearssT he claitmh atth iissh isv iewo ft hingIsn.d eeidt
Breaotfh tAhlel -MerIcbinaf lu-l'A:r abii's,s bhueh ta sm anyo thevri ewsas w ellI.f
Artitciuoolnfat hCeo smos. we make naot temtpott akteh osvei ewisn to
Int hiisn troductafitoendr,i scusswihnagt accoutn,w e will misrepresent him.
I havet rietdo d o in:t hep resevnotl umeI, Itw asm y purposienS PKt ol etI bna l­
refleocnt t hed istincbettiwoene n" cosmol­ c.Arabis peak hfiomrs elafn,d t ot hiesn dI
ogy"i na moderns,c ientsiefnisce --stehnes e reliaesdm ucha sp ossibolnet ranslahtiisn g
thaitn forms contemcpuolrtaurrye -ainnd wordsI.ns everal eosvseatryh sey ears, some
thes ensien w hichth ei deias u nderstoboyd ofw hicwhe rep ublishaesId m aginWaorll ds,
Ibna PArabTIh.e nI s ummaritzhee c ontents It rietdos peafko rh ima,n di nt hesmey voice
ofS PK,t hep resebnoto ka,n dT heB reaotfh wasn od oublto udetrh anh isT.h eb eswta y
thAel1 -MercFiinfaulIllt y.u r tno s omeo ft he toa llohwi mt os peafko rh imsewlofu ldb e,
probletmhsa ttr anslanteoerdts o f acweh en ofc ourssei,m pltyo t ranslhaitswe o rksb,u t
attempttionr ge ndetrh ew ritinogfsI bna l­ severmaalj oprr oblemmsa ket hirso utdei f­
(Arabiin tEon glish. fciulitf n oti mpossitbolf eo lloFwo.r emost
Thep resebnoto ka ddsf ewb asitce rms amongt hesies t hatth et ranslanteoerd ts o
andi deatso S PK.P racticeavlelryiy m por­ understawnhda tI bna PArabiiss ayinagn,d
tantte rm mentihoenreweda sa tl eatsotu ched thiissn ota qualificaastc ioomnm ona so ne
ix
upont herMea.n yo ft hed iscussiwoinlbsle mighetx pect.
Introduction
Ibna J-CArabiw'rsi tinagrsef ulolf o bscuri­Engliswhi,t houmto untaionfsc ommentary,
tieSso.m eo ft hesgeo b ackt ot her ichneosfs area,t t hipso initn,s urmountable.
hist eachianngdst hev aspto ssibiloiftt hiee s My firmsatj oart tempttos olvae f ewo f
Arabilca nguagaen,d o thertsot hei ntense thep roblemrse latteodr enderiInbgn a l­
brilliaonftc hee i nspiratthiaostne izetdh e 'Arabifdse aasc curatienltEyon gliissfh o und
authoirnp articuplaasrs agIenss .t udyihnigs inS PK.M osto ft habto oki st ranslatbiuotn ,
workst,h ee asiewsaty tod ealw itht hese by selecting certainI wapsaa sbslatego e s,
obscuriitsit eois g norteh ema ndt of ocuosn define basic coInbcnae lp-t'Asr aiboniw 'ns
whati sc leaIrn.t ranslatinlgo-nagas s o ne wordsa ndt henc itoet hepra ssages to illus­
isn ota ttemptaic nogm plettrea nslation-onter ahtoew h ee mploytsh ec oncepHtosw.e ver,
cana,s I d idi nS PK,s imipy drops uchp as­ mosto ft hospea ssagaerses horatn di ncom­
sageasn da llu nwelcomdei gressiaonnds pletIeb.na l-'Ardaobeisn otd evelohpi si deas
replatchee mw itha ne llipsis. gradualWlhye.r eveorn em ay enteirn thoi s
SeveroaflI bna l-'Arasbhio'rwsto rkhsa ve writintghse,i deaasr ea lreadfyu lbll own.
been transbluatft oerad ,n umbeor fr easons Onlyb yq uotinhgi mo uto fc ontecxatn o ne
few,i fa ny,h aveb eent ranslaatsew de lals suggetshta hte i sa systematthiicn kewrh,o
onem ighth aveh opedT.h em ajoprr oblem develohpissi deaisna w ayt hawto ulda llow
hasn otb eeknn owledogfeA rabibcu,tk nowl­ someone unfamwiiltihta hre mt ob ei ntro­
edgeo fI bna lJArabtie'asc hianngdsp erspec­ ducedt ot hems tebpy s tep.
tiveTsh.e c onteoxfth iss horwto rksa,f ter Manyo ft hep robletmrsa nslaftaocrcesa n
alli,sn oto nlyt heI slamiinct elletcrtaudail­ bee xaminecdl oseilnyt hev olumLe eIs llu­
tioonf t het hirteecnetnht ury--espeicni almlyi natdieoL naMs e cque/ThMee ccna Illu­
itsj uriditchaelo,l ogipchaill,o sophaincda l, mintaioninsw ,h ichf our uosf t ranslated
Sufi modes-buatl soI bna l-'Aralboin'gs passages tfhreoF mut ii};1ianttEo n glish and
worksi,nw hichhe p rovidtehseb ackground Frenchu ndetrh eg enereadli torsohfMi ipc hel
forw hath es ayisn h iss horwto rksA.n other ChodkiewiAclzt.h ougwhe mades omea t­
problewmi tht ranslaItbinna gl -'Ariastb hie temptto a greoen h owt or endecre rtabians ic
profusoifot ne chnitcearlm asn dc onstarnetf ­ termfso,rt hem ostp arwte f ollowoeudro wn
erencteo K oranH,a ditha,nd o thesro urces inclinatbiootnhis n,t ranslaatnidop nr esen­
witwh hich Engrleiasdhe arrsen otn ormally tatioIn,f. o r examtprliee,td or endewrh ole
conversaJnatm.eM so rrihsa ss uggesteeldo ­ chapteorrss ectiownist,h ouitn terruption,
quentilnya numbero fa rticsloemse o ft he whereas James pMroerfreirsrt eosd u mma­
dififculttiheastt h esseo rtosfp roblems raisrei zseo mep artasn dt ranslate Mootshtoe fr s.
forr eadearnsd t ranslators.2 us madej udiciuosueos f e llipses-stmharlele
Ibna l-'ArambaIj'ossru rvivwionrgk i sa 1- dotst haitn e vercya ses avesdo mes orotf
Futul;taa1t- kmkaiyya",T heM eccanO pen­ headache.
ings.Pe"o plseo metimaessk m e why I do Int hiwso rkI h avea ttemptaesdm ,u cha s
nots impltyr ansltahtaeta ,n dm y frista n­ possibtloep ,u td iscussiionntsto h ec ontext
sweri st haIth ave onolnyel ifetitmode e ­ noto nlyo fI bna l-'AragbrIa'nspd r ojebcutt,
votteo i tT.h ew orki se normously alnodn,g alsoof t hes pecitfoipci tch ahte i sp resenting.
inp laceesx,t raordindairfcfiuillyWt h.e nI bn Inc ontratsoSt P K,I h aves erioutsrliye tdo
al-'.Arawbaix'ess poetaishc eao lf,t edno esi,t avoiqdu otinsgn ippeotfts e xatn db riepfa s­
iss ometimiemsp ossi(bfloetr h is reaatd er sagesM.o reoveirn,c ontratsott h awto rkI,
leastto)u nderstawnhda th ei sg ettiantg. havet riendo ttod ropa nythiinngt hem idst
Ther ichneasnsdp rofusiooftn h ei magery, of.a passagTeh.i sh asm adem y tasmku ch
thec onstaanltl usitoond si verwsaey stationsm ored ififculatn,d i tw ilnlo tm aket hings
oft hes piritjuoaulr netyh,es transgyem bol­ easiert hfero era deNre.v erthelIet shsi,nt kh e
ismm ixewdi tchl assilciatle rtarroyp emsa,k e struggilswe o rtthh ee ffoorntb oths ides-if
thet asko fd eciphertihnegp assagtersu ly ourg oails t rultyou nderstawnhda tI bna l­
dauntinEgve.n s uppositnhget ranslahtaosr �abii sg etting at.
understood iwsbh eaitn sga idt,h ep roblems Int hea ttempttoa voiodf efrinpga ssages
x ofr enderitnhgew ordsi ntcoo mprehensibloeu to fc onteIxh ta,v eq uotemda nyf ulclh ap-